About Us

Community Arts & Culture is a division of the Town of Chapel Hill with offices located on the ground floor of Chapel Hill Public Library.

Our Mission

To inspire creativity and celebrate community for a better Chapel Hill.

Our Values

In addition to the Townʼs RESPECT values, we champion values that speak directly to the work of Community Arts & Culture:

Inclusion

Arts and culture are for the many, not the few. We embrace diversity and advance equity within our community and the world.

Experience

Arts and culture can transform us. We champion moments that shift our perspective and ask us to be a part of something larger than ourselves.

Explore Public Art

“I think they’re interested in bringing arts to the greater Chapel Hill community, rather than just speaking to a narrow group of people who might already identify as arts-interested or arts-oriented." - Wendy Spitzer | Artist

Understanding

Arts and culture enlighten minds and open hearts. We foster creative curiosity that supports both individual development and collective growth.

A Poem For Hope

Watch In The Aftermath

Our History

Art has long been part of Chapel Hill’s story, but it was formalized in 1992. Expand the full timeline below to see how our work has evolved since then.

1992

Former Town Council member Nancy Preston creates a fund for public art and requests the establishment of a Public Art Endowment Fund Committee. The first hanging system and display case are installed for exhibitions at Town Hall.

1993

At the request of the Public Art Endowment Fund Committee, the name of the organization is changed to the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission (CHPAC).

1994

The first exhibition is displayed at Chapel Hill Town Hall.

1998

The first exhibition is displayed at Chapel Hill Public Library.

2002

The Town adopts a Percent for Art ordinance, mandating 1% of select Town capital projects to be used to fund public art pieces. Mike Roig is selected for the first Percent for Art project at Firehouse #5.

2003

www.chapelhillarts.org is launched! CHPAC begins cataloguing the Town’s art collection.

2008

Existing public art positions officially become Town of Chapel Hill staff.

2009

Public art staffing is housed within Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation and called the Cultural Arts Division, which expands to include community festivals and events.

2017

The Cultural Arts Division transitions to Chapel Hill Public Library and is renamed Community Arts & Culture.

2020

Chapel Hill launches its Poet Laureate program and selects CJ Suitt as its first Poet Laureate.

2023

The Chapel Hill Arts & Culture Award Program begins, providing $43,500 to Orange County nonprofits annually.

2025

The Town earns a Great Place for Public Art Award from the American Planning Association.

Today

Community Arts & Culture remains within Chapel Hill Public Library. Our team plans 40+ public art installations, 12 exhibitions, and 10 community events annually. Each year, we process nearly 1,000 artist and vendor applications and welcome 22,000+ people to our events.